Minister of Labour David Forbes endured 45 minutes of questions from union members at today’s Convention.  Delegates took the Minister to task for poor enforcement of occupational health and safety contraventions, particularly in the mining industry.  They were also disappointed that the Minister appeared unwilling to make anti-scab legislation a priority at the provincial level.

Delegates pressed the Minister to move ahead on provincial bargaining rights for education support workers; to deal with harassment of workers inside some government departments; and to enact the recommendations of the Commission on Improving Work Opportunities for Saskatchewan Residents.

Jim Hopson, President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Roughriders spoke on the topic of discrimination this afternoon.  He said that “homophobia is the one area where it is still socially acceptable to make offensive comments and jokes”, and he described racism and homophobia in our schools and in the pro-sport culture.

Delegates took up a collection for striking Sobeys workers and members of RWDSU local 454.

Armine Yalnizyan, Toronto economist and researcher, will speak tomorrow morning at 10:45 a.m.on the growing income gap between rich and poor in Canada and overall social inequality.  Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour speaks at 1:50 p.m. on the topic of doing politics in the labour movement.

The SFL will join the Social Justice Coalition at the Legislature tomorrow at noon for a rally against poverty.

President Larry Hubich called on delegates to continue to join the fight for social justice and equality in their workplaces and their communities.

The SFL represents 93,500 unionized workers from 35 affiliated unions in Saskatchewan.

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